The Cornerstone Ministries’ Associate Student Ministries Pastor, under the guidance and in cooperation with the Student Ministries Pastor, is responsible for visioning, planning, administering, coordinating, supervising and evaluating the main components of our Student Ministries.
Key Responsibilities:
- Responsible for ministry to students in the church grades 6-12; with focus on 6-8 grade students.
- Assist the Pastor of Student Ministries in the implementation of an all-encompassing Student Ministries program that coincides with Cornerstone Ministries’ values, objectives, and culture.
- Partner with parents.
- Volunteer Development
What a Strong Candidate Would Look Like:
- Foresight and Systems – The ideal candidate for this role thrives on structured planning, systems, and organization.
- Copilot – The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who embraces a family-oriented, all-in approach to ministry.
- High Leadership Capacity – The ideal candidate will be skilled at empowering and mobilizing a dedicated team of high-capacity volunteer leaders.
- Opportunities, Not Obstacles – The ideal candidate will be a creative problem solver with a resilient, can-do attitude, capable of turning challenges into opportunities.
Requirements
High Leadership Capacity:
- This new leader will be over the three other full-time staff members and interns who make up the student ministries staff. They will also help oversee the volunteers. The volunteer leadership for the student ministry is made up of high-capacity leaders who are fully invested. This team is committed to their small groups, involvement in events, and running sub-ministry teams.
- The new leader will need to be skilled in empowering, encouraging, and mobilizing staff and volunteers. They should be passionate about students, leaders, and partnering with parents.
Collaboration:
- The student ministries team is truly collaborative and foster a family atmosphere in everything they do. This team needs someone who knows how to be a great lead and someone who leads with collaboration —no lone rangers here. The mentality is “we do this together” and caring for families, leaders, and the work of the ministry is shared and assigned based more on relationships and skills than on titles.
- The ideal candidate will be “all in” viewing this as a whole-family ministry. The student ministry team often brings their families to events and even stays after services to play together in “The Warehouse.”
Foresight and Systems:
- Small groups, camps, and service structures are all mapped out and planned in advance. The ideal candidate will love systems, structures, planning, and a good spreadsheet. With a history of organizing their own camps, mission trips, and events, this team is organized and operates like a well-oiled machine.
- Parents and leaders know the annual youth ministry schedule up to 12 months in advance. Part of their rhythm includes consistent review and debriefing, allowing them to continuously improve and make their events better.
Opportunities not Obstacles:
- The student ministry team is masterful at turning obstacles into opportunities. They did not slow down or give up, when obstacles come, they pivot and find ways to continue organizing mission trips, camps, and other events.
- They have consistently faced space issues as the group outgrows camps and event venues, finding ways to provide alternative options.
- This new leader must be a creative problem solver with a can-do, make-it-happen mentality, even if that means joining a traveling trampoline performance team (ask P. Joel).
- This role may involve late nights and long weekends preparing for camps.
Sucession:
- After years of successfully leading the student ministries, Joel Guinen will be transitioning from his role as the Student Ministries Pastor, to the Lead Pastor of NextGen Ministries. Joel is excited about bringing on a new Student Ministries Pastor to lead the student ministries into its next season.
Why We Love This Opportunity
Working with the team at Cornerstone has been a great joy. They are optimistic and passionate about students. From the top down, Cornerstone has repeatedly demonstrated its commitment to investing in student ministries, with a dedicated building for students, a high level of commitment from volunteers, and a make-it-happen attitude. This group truly knows how to turn obstacles into opportunities.
About Cornerstone Ministries
Cornerstone Ministries is located in Murrysville, Pennsylvania just outside of Pittsburgh. As of early 2025, Pastor Paul Hunter now leads as Senior Pastor, bringing a fresh approach shaped by over 25 years of ministry experience and a deep passion for evangelism and discipleship. His vision and heart for the local church are inspiring a renewed focus on Gospel-centered outreach and spiritual growth.
The goal at Cornerstone Ministries is to share the light and love of Jesus in the community and around the world. Cornerstone is a thriving culture of ministry. The youth and children’s ministries are exploding and are known throughout the community. The worship and creative ministry is made of a number of staff and volunteers who are gifted and execute at a very high level. Cornerstone Ministries is making an impact in Westmoreland County, the city of Pittsburgh, and around the world.
About Murrysville
Cornerstone Ministries is located in Murrysville, Pennsylvania in Westmoreland County. A suburb of Pittsburgh, Cornerstone is located 18 miles east of downtown.
Pittsburgh is a thriving, cultural city. Once the center of the American steel industry, Pittsburgh is affectionately known as the “Steel City” and home to one of the greatest football dynasties on earth, The Pittsburgh Steelers. People in Pittsburgh are hard-working, blue-collar, committed people passionate about their city.
The city and surrounding areas are filled with things to do. There are no shortage of sports from catching a Steelers game at Heinz Field, the Pirates at PNC Park, or the Pittsburgh Penguins at PPG Paints Arena. Pittsburgh is also home to wonderful restaurants, theaters, parks, and concert venues.
